The Major's Wife. Anthony Whyte

Papa, it’s alright. They were just doing their jobs,” Diana said, hugging the man. “Someone shot and killed Vaughn, and I don’t—”

      “Yeah, I heard it’s all over the news. But Diana, Diana dear, are you alright?” the old man asked with concern.

      Diana smiled and said, “I’m holding up…”

      “We’ll stand by you. After all, you’re still our daughter despite whatever happened, including mixing with their kind,” the old man said, looking at the investigators.

      The attorney tried to preserve the father’s objectivity. With a smile of embarrassment, he said, “Aw, you understand he’s just concerned about his daughter.”

      “I don’t think he’s ever liked the marriage. And he probably never liked Diana’s choice of a husband either,” Sharkey deadpanned. “Truly, your everyday-trailer-park-redneck.”

      “The only thing is he has a lot of money, lives in a big home, and loves his daughter,” the attorney said, throwing both hands up.

      “I don’t care where he lives—he’s still a damn redneck,” Sharkey snarled.

      The officers watched as Diana returned her father’s embrace before he angrily stomped away. The older man led his grieving daughter out the door with his attorney following, leaving the officers staring after them. The older man didn’t realize that his demeanor toward his daughter was married to a Black man who made him rocket up a suspect’s shortlist. Diana King was a person-of-interest based on the fact that she was the last person to see her husband alive. There was no reason for them to keep her any longer, and she was released.

      “Sorry about your loss,” McAlister said, holding the door.

      “Shut your flytrap,” the old man said, walking out with his daughter.

      The officers waved goodbye to their only witness. Then Sharkey echoed what all investigators were thinking.

      “Does anyone of you think that his hatred for his son-in-law could be enough for him to commit murder?” Sharkey asked when they were out of earshot.

      “He has a lot of venom in him. It’s certainly worth a follow-up,” Captain Blackbird said.

      “I reserved the right to answer that one in a couple of days. I gotta think about it,” McAlister said.

      “Jim Bob, stop being the doorman, and let’s go do some detective work,” Sharkey said.

      “Like what?”

      “How about we rattle some cages and hear what tunes the birds are singing,” Sharkey suggested.

      “Then we shake some feathers, and ah see what info they got for us?”

      “Yeah, you got it. This time you’re driving,” Sharkey said to his partner. “We’ll be in touch,” he said, waving to the military investigators, Captain Blackbird and Sgt. Eubanks.

      “They seem young to be doing this type of job,” McAlister said when they got in the unmarked car.

      “Remember those were your words when the chief hears it back, and he gets mad,” Sharkey smiled.

      CHAPTER

      5

      From Enterprise through Fort Rucker and Daleville, news of the aviator’s demise spread like Napalm fire in a Vietnamese rice field. Homicide investigations led by Detectives Sharkey and McAlister made inquiries throughout King’s close friends and colleagues. With the notable exception of his in-laws, his friends were all saddened by the news. Diana’s parents were opposed to the marriage. The investigators found that while her mother was reserved with any opinions opposing the wedding, Diana’s father openly showed his animosity toward the union. On different occasions, he had made his known to several friends who cared to listen.

      Her family did not wholly ostracize Diana, but both parties hadn’t shared a Thanksgiving meal in some time. However, the families were attempting to fix the icy relations. The warm feeling started to brew once Diana’s family got wind that the union was on the rocky side. Friend and confidant, Dr. Ruth Janopolis, was routinely providing therapy for the couple. The police kept her as a person of interest. Sharkey and McAlister went through the list of close friends, starting with Lieutenant Andrew Gatlin. He agreed to meet them at his house.

      Both Gatlin and his wife were hospitable. Coffee and pecan pie were offered to the detectives as they sat down listening. After a couple of minutes, it was clear that the couple were straightforward, and corroborated Diana’s account of the day playing golf. Their time of departure from the golf course and the plans to meet for dinner verified the surviving spouse’s statement. Diana was slowly falling on the shortlist of suspects.

      “So, a few of you decided to go to the restaurant as planned, or did you go home?” Sharkey asked.

      “Yes, we were celebrating Chris’ promo. He got his railroad tracks and was scheduled to PCS for Ft. Hood O’ Dark thirty-next morning,” Gatlin said.

      “He did what?” Sharkey asked.

      “He was promoted to captain and was leaving for Texas early the next morning. I’m used to his military jargon,” Mrs. Gatlin explained.

      “So we waited for Vaughn and Diana. Sat around toasting Chris, had a few drinks, then we decided to eat,” Gatlin said.

      “Didn’t anyone found it odd that Vaughn and Diana didn’t show up? I mean you guys were expecting them—” Sharkey said.

      “It was Vaughn and Diana… I mean, most of us thought they went home and decided to get into something else. I called his cellphone, and left several messages,” Gatlin said.

      “What did you think about their disappearance?” Sharkey asked.

      “Nothing…I mean, I was thinking Vaughn was busy working on making a baby, you know he’s been away for close a year…” Gatlin said, and his voice trailed.

      “How did you find out about King’s death?”

      “Laura and I came home. We heard it on the news, AFN,” Andrew Gatlin said.

      “Why did you think he never called you back? Does he return calls or—”

      Shrugging his shoulder, Gatlin said, “It didn’t mean anything to anyone there…at least not immediately. We had a few beers and were chilling. After that, we ate. Vaughn was away from her about a year or so. I wasn’t thinking anything, but that they were getting busy, making you know, love.”

      “When you heard you the news, what was going on in your mind?”

      “Damn, I was in shock. First, I thought the news got it all wrong. I mean…everything was going on. I told my wife to call Diana, and I called Vaughn’s cellphone. I got no answer. And I started calling other people. They were getting the same news was hinting that it could’ve been a terrorist hit. I mean, Vaughn is six-four and well trained. He was an excellent fighter. We thought that the way it happened that this had to be some kind of planned hit. Maybe terrorist, I mean, the whole base immediately went on a higher level of alert.”

      “This war has everyone going crazy… At any minute, things could just explode. I don’t know why we let known or suspected terrorists into the country,” Mrs. Gatlin sighed then said, “More tea, anyone?”

      “No thanks,” the detectives chorused.

      Things got interesting when Sharkey asked, “How long have you guys known the Kings?”

      “Andy came in the service with Vaughn, and I sort of met both Vaughn and Diana through my husband,” Mrs. Gatlin said.

      “Oh I see,” Sharkey said, nodding. Then he studied Andrew Gatlin for a beat before he continued. “What about you, Andy?”

      “I’ve known Vaughn and his family since our days as plebes at West Point. Despite having a different skin color, Vaughn and I were pretty tight. We were best friends.